October 2026 | Eastern Canada Presbytery Meeting in Halifax
Good morning Sojourn Church,
I’m writing to you at the Halifax airport, waiting to board my flight home to Hamilton after yesterday’s presbytery meeting (October 23, 2026).
Presbytery is a gathering of pastors and elders from churches in our region who meet 3 times a year to encourage one another, work together for the advance of the gospel, and oversee the life and ministry of our churches. We are part of the Eastern Canada Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), which stretches from Ontario to the Atlantic provinces. Each church in our presbytery sends its pastors and elders to these meetings.
It’s good to be reminded that our little church is part of something much bigger!One of the things we value about being Presbyterian is that we don’t believe churches are meant to work in isolation. In obedience to the Great Commission, we strive together in gospel ministry and seek to strengthen one another as we proclaim Christ and make disciples.
To that end, I wanted to share a brief update on some of what took place yesterday. It was a genuinely encouraging gathering, with much to give thanks for, celebrate, and look forward to. The harvest is plentiful, and we need the Lord to raise up more workers—pastors, church planters, elders, deacons, and faithful members like you. Never underestimate your part in advancing his kingdom through prayer, partnership, and service. Please pray that the Lord would provide the workers we need and strengthen us for the work ahead, not only here in Stoney Creek/East Hamilton but in all of Eastern Canada.
Here are some highlights from yesterday’s meeting:
New Church Plants in Richmond Hill and Windsor
Two pastors within our presbytery are actively preparing to launch new churches in their communities. Mission Richmond Hill Markham (RHM), led by recently ordained pastor Stephen Hsu, is being commissioned by Christ Church Toronto to plant a Chinese second-generation church in the area. It was great to have Stephen preach at Sojourn this past summer. Mission Windsor, led by pastor Kingsley Lai, is preparing to launch in his hometown of Windsor, a part of southern Ontario where there are currently no PCA churches. We also heard of the possibility of a new church plant in Barrie, where an experienced pastor-planter is considering the opportunity to begin a new work. Please pray for these men and their teams as they prepare, gather people, lay foundations, and seek the Lord's provision. Pray that healthy, vibrant churches would be established in these communities, faithfully preaching the gospel and making disciples of Jesus Christ.
Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) coming to GTHA
Rev. Kyle Hackmann of Christ Church Toronto presented a proposal to bring an American minister to Canada to serve as the first Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) campus minister, with the goal of establishing a ministry at a university in the Toronto or Hamilton area. The presbytery approved a motion to bring Rev. Nate Osner (currently at Purdue in Indiana) to begin this work in the fall of 2027, though many details remain to be worked out.
RUF is a gospel-centred campus ministry that seeks to reach university students with the good news of Jesus Christ, help them grow in their faith, and connect them with the life of a local church. This is an exciting opportunity to introduce students to the gospel and to the life and ministry of churches within the PCA. Please pray for the preparations ahead and that the Lord would use this ministry to bring many students to Christ and establish them in faithful, Bible-believing churches.
Chapel Place Presbyterian Church to join the PCA
Established in the 1960s by Egyptian immigrants, Chapel Place Presbyterian Church is now a congregation of more than 320 members. In recent years, after the Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC) adopted a broader definition of marriage, Chapel Place made the difficult decision to leave the PCC in order to maintain its commitment to biblical ethics and a faithful gospel witness.
Because church properties in the PCC are held by the denomination rather than individual congregations, Chapel Place faced the enormous challenge of purchasing its building upon departure. At great sacrificial cost, the congregation raised $4 million to purchase the very building its members had helped support over the years. Chapel Place has now officially departed from the PCC and will begin the process of joining the Eastern Canada Presbytery of the PCA.
At our presbytery meeting, the call of Pastor Lyndon Jost, formerly of Christ Church Toronto, to shepherd Chapel Place's English-speaking congregation was approved. The church's pastors will also undergo transfer examinations as part of the process. Given my Egyptian background and familiarity with Arabic, I will be assisting with some of these examinations.
Please pray for Chapel Place, for Pastor Lyndon as he begins his ministry, and for wisdom and unity throughout this significant transition. We are grateful for the Lord's provision and for the opportunity to welcome this congregation into our presbytery!
Moncton-area churches considering joining the PCA
Two churches in the Moncton (New Brunswick) area were represented at our meeting by their pastors, elders, and staff as they consider leaving the PCC and joining the PCA. Please pray for these leaders as they navigate this difficult transition, seeking to preserve the health and biblical faithfulness of their congregations and maintain a clear gospel witness.
Grace Village in St. George organized into a particular church
Grace Village in St. George (North Brantford) has been formally organized as a particular church, with its own elected elders, marking an important milestone in its growth. Kevin deJonge has accepted the call to continue serving as lead pastor. Please pray for the new ruling elders as they prepare to be installed and serve alongside him in shepherding the congregation.
Aaron Korvemaaker licensed to preach in our presbytery
Some of you may remember Rev. Aaron Korvemaaker, who preached at Sojourn this past August. Aaron previously pastored Redeeming Grace Reformed Church in Brantford (URCNA) and now serves at New City Church, helping with its ministries and discipleship. We are pleased to share that Aaron has passed his licensure examinations and is now licensed to preach in our presbytery. Please pray for him as he continues serving Christ and his church and seeking future ministry opportunities.
Baptist theologian Rev. Dr. Craig Carter Transfers into the PCA
Well-known Baptist theologian Rev. Dr. Craig Carter was welcomed into our presbytery after passing his transfer examinations from the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptists (FEB). Though retired, Dr. Carter remains a prolific writer and mentor to many pastors and theologians. He attends and serves at Christ Church Toronto and hopes to see a new church planted in Whitby–Pickering. Please pray for this potential new work and for the continued use of Dr. Carter’s gifts in strengthening the church.
Your Pastor was elected as Presbytery Moderator for 2027
The presbytery elected Phil Tadros (yours truly!) to serve as Moderator of the Eastern Canada Presbytery for 2027. The moderator presides over presbytery meetings, helping facilitate orderly discussion, guide deliberations, and ensure that the presbytery carries out its work faithfully. It is a privilege for me, though a newer presbyter, to be elected to serve our fellow pastors and elders in this capacity. Please pray for wisdom, humility, and discernment as I take on this responsibility in 2027.
